TEDONA #169
The job isn’t to catch up to the status quo; the job is to invent the status quo...
Insights
Try is the opposite of hiding.
The job isn’t to catch up to the status quo; the job is to invent the status quo.
The cost of being wrong is less than the cost of doing nothing.
Observations
We often chase beauty, opportunity, and meaning far from home, believing the best experiences are beyond reach. We load up our schedules, battle through traffic, and sometimes exhaust ourselves trying to arrive at a place we believe will offer something special.
I planned to travel across the city this spring to see the cherry blossoms. The idea of strolling under a canopy of pink petals felt like the perfect escape – a reward after a long stretch of work and daily responsibilities. But as I prepared to leave, I hit wall-to-wall traffic. Frustrated, I decided to turn back.
“Maybe another day,” I thought.
That day never came.
A week passed, then another. Life kept lifing. The timing never worked out. The blossoms likely fell, the season passed, and I missed my moment. Or so I thought.
Then one morning, I looked out into my backyard.
There they were.
Blossoms are in full bloom – lush and radiant- right outside my window. The same kind of beauty I had planned to seek out was already there, waiting.
That moment hit me hard. Not just because the flowers were stunning, but because they taught me something powerful:
Sometimes we miss the blessings right in front of us because we’ve convinced ourselves they must be somewhere else.
It’s a mindset that shows up everywhere in life.
• We scroll past our own accomplishments while admiring someone else’s curated highlight reel.
• We overlook the support systems we have – friends, family, mentors – while wishing for different company.
• We chase “better” careers, cities, or connections, without realizing we’re already surrounded by raw material for joy, growth, and fulfillment.
Why do we do this?
Because “over there” always looks shinier.
Because we’ve been trained to believe significance lies in the extraordinary, not the everyday.
Because we’ve tied progress to movement and hustle, not presence.
But cherry blossoms don’t bloom louder just because they’re in a famous park. Beauty is beauty – whether it’s downtown or outside your kitchen window.
The Real Work is in Learning to See
The problem isn’t always that something is missing – it’s that we haven’t developed the lens to recognize what’s already ours.
It could be the neighbor who checks in on you.
The book collecting dust on your shelf with the exact message you need.
The career opportunity inside your current role.
The love and lessons blooming inside your own home.
We don’t need to travel far to find meaning – we need to become better observers of the present.
That doesn’t mean we stop dreaming or exploring. Ambition is beautiful too. But what if, before we chase the next big thing, we pause to ask:
What is already blooming in my life that I’ve ignored?
Since that day, I’ve been practicing stillness.
I’ve been noticing more – the way the sunlight hits my porch in the morning, the books I’ve already read that still whisper wisdom, the small conversations with my kids that hold big insight.
The cherry blossoms taught me this:
We often don’t need more. We need to look again.
So if you’re waiting for the perfect moment, the right opportunity, the ideal time to feel grateful, grounded, or proud – maybe pause and look around.
There’s a good chance what you’re seeking is already here.
It just needs your attention.
Watched
Books
Mastery by Robert Greene is a deep dive into the path of achieving greatness by unlocking your innate potential through disciplined learning and long-term focus.
Drawing from the lives of masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Darwin, and Temple Grandin, Greene reveals that mastery isn’t reserved for the chosen few—it’s a process anyone can follow. The book breaks down three key phases: apprenticeship (learning the rules), creative-active (applying and experimenting), and mastery (intuitive flow and innovation). Greene emphasizes the power of mentorship, deliberate practice, and trusting your unique inclinations. The message is clear: genius isn’t born—it’s forged through years of dedication, curiosity, and persistence. By mastering your craft, you elevate your skill and shape your destiny.
Mastery is a call to slow down, focus intensely, and embrace the long game to achieve exceptional results. I have read this book before, but on this reading, the book really resonated.
The 3 Stages of Mastery
1. Apprenticeship (Learn)
Observe, absorb knowledge, develop discipline, humble yourself, and learn from setbacks.
2. Creative-Active (Apply)
Experiment with your skills.
Think independently .
Begin innovating.
3. Mastery (Transcend)Intuition takes over. You synthesize knowledge effortlessly.You contribute original work to your field.
Strategy
“Either you’re going to tell stories that spread, or you will become irrelevant.”- Seth Godin
Question
Questions are the answers. The clearer your questions, the more precise your answers.
What questions are you asking yourself?